Re: [vic]Leongatha rail service review (gov annncmnt)

[Vaughan Williams <ender2000@my-deja.com>]

It may be a bit early to be too hopeful about the line being opened -
its just a review.

The review may well say, "If we reopen the line, it will lose money".
NX will then present Batchelor with an open palm, who will then leave
the line closed because it wasn't part of the election platform to do
anything other than review the closure.

I hate to be a pessimist, but I think thats the most likely outcome

Vaughan
(Comments on this made in a private capacity and not on behalf of
anyone)

In article <BzfH4.282$4v.1482@news-server.bigpond.net.au>,
  "Brian Evans (IOM)" <bevans@omni.com.au> wrote:
> Well done Mr. Batchelor!
>
> A great outcome steming from a VERY unpopular decision to close the
line.
> The only real pitty was the vandalism by the Kennett government of
the track
> past leongatha that was lifted and sent to the scrap heap.
>
> Regards,
> Brian
>
> andrei <andrei@ausisp.com> wrote in message
> 8cjfr6$194v$1@news1.wire.net.au">news:8cjfr6$194v$1@news1.wire.net.au...
> > found this press release on the government web site:
> >
>
http://www.dpc.vic.gov.au/domino/web_notes/newmedia.nsf/366feaa87308bebf
4a25
> > 6811007f839b/c0971dcfa93888194a2568b80013a27a?OpenDocument
> >
> > media release
> > FROM THE MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT
> >
> > DATE: Tuesday, April 4, 2000
> >
> >
> > LEONGATHA RAIL SERVICE REVIEW ANNOUNCED
> >
> > The latest plank in the Bracks Government's Linking Victoria
program has
> > commenced with the establishment of a Community Reference Group to
help
> > review the options for returning rail services between Leongatha and
> > Melbourne.
> >
> > The Minister for Transport, Mr Peter Batchelor, said the Government
was
> > meeting its commitment to the people of Gippsland to review the
Kennett
> > Government's closure of the Leongatha passenger rail service in
1993.
> >
> > "The Leongatha Rail Review will assess the performance of coach
services
> > that have replaced the passenger trains. It will also investigate
the
> impact
> > on the local economy and the commercial feasibility of returning a
> passenger
> > service on the line," said Mr Batchelor.
> >
> > "The review will also consider the future of rail freight services
and
> > tourist trains on the Leongatha line."
> >
> > Mr Batchelor has sent letters to the Member for Gippsland West, Ms
Susan
> > Davies, and the South Gippsland Shire Council inviting them to take
part
> in
> > the Community Reference Group that will also include
representatives from
> > the Department of Infrastructure and the Department of State and
Regional
> > Development.
> >
> > Rail operators, Freight Australia and National Express, as well as
local
> > community interest groups will also be consulted as part of the
review.
> >
> > "The Government is currently in discussions with the South
Gippsland Shire
> > Council about a possible freight terminal in the area and I have
invited
> the
> > council to provide details of any other industry groups that may
also be
> > interested in taking part in the rail review," said Mr Batchelor.
> >
> > Leongatha is one of five country rail services closed by the Kennett
> > Government that are now being reviewed. The other services are on
the
> > Mildura, Ararat, Bairnsdale and Cobram lines.
> >
> > "The Bracks Government wants to strengthen the ties between
Melbourne and
> > regional Victoria and generate new opportunities for the growth and
> > development of the State's regional and rural areas," said Mr
Batchelor.
> >
> > "Through Linking Victoria, the Government plans to work with the
private
> > sector to invest more than $1.5billion in the State's roads, rail
and
> ports
> > over the next four years."
> >
> > "The potential reopening of the Leongatha rail line for freight
would open
> > new opportunities for transporting products from the region's
building
> > sands, horticultural and timber industries."
> >
> > Mr Batchelor praised local MP Susan Davies for her work in
campaigning for
> a
> > return of rail services to this important region of Victoria.
> >
> > He said the Kennett Government had failed to understand the
importance of
> > high quality transport services to regional communities.
> >
> > "The Leongatha Rail Review will include consideration of tourism
> initiatives
> > such as the running of steam trains on the line," said Mr Batchelor.
> >
> > A report on the Leongatha Rail Review is expected to be presented
to the
> > Government by July 2000.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>


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